Viridor’s Post

The world is drowning in plastic. Alarming statistics reveal that a staggering amount of plastic waste is generated globally, with only a small fraction being successfully recycled. Here at Fusion One Energy Corp, we're deeply concerned about this growing environmental crisis. Studies like the one by the Smithsonian Magazine (https://lnkd.in/eeGnDg4q) highlight the sobering reality: a vast majority of plastic waste ends up in landfills, polluting our environment for centuries to come. This plastic influx harms wildlife, contaminates ecosystems, and threatens public health. While traditional recycling methods face limitations, Fusion One offers a groundbreaking solution. Our HydroPlas™ technology provides a second life to plastic waste by converting it into clean, usable energy – hydrogen fuel. This innovative approach diverts plastic from landfills and creates a sustainable energy source. We believe that tackling plastic waste requires a multi-pronged approach. We need to: 1) Reduce reliance on single-use plastics 2) Invest in and improve recycling infrastructure 3) Embrace innovative waste-to-energy solutions like Fusion One's HydroPlas™ technology Let's work together to turn the tide on plastic waste. Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below. How can we create a future where plastic waste becomes a resource, not a burden? #wastetoenergy #plasticsolution #sustainability #cleantech #FusionOne

Did you know that only 9% of plastic worldwide is recycled? Why did you think it was more? A very interesting article that highlights another angle of the plastic pollution issue and the financial risk many companies are facing in ignoring this. https://lnkd.in/ghhmqqZB

The focus on recycling has allowed the plastic industry to continue the expansion of production, shifting the blame for global plastic pollution onto consumers, according to a report by Planet Tracker. For years the plastic industry has been promoting recycling as the solution to the world’s plastic pollution crisis despite the fact that a staggering 91% of plastic is not recycled globally. "While continuing to advance plastics recycling is part of the solution, there should also be more emphasis on the reducing and re-using of plastics", says Investment Analyst Luc van Haaren, CFA "Here investors can play a role to push companies in the consumer sectors to adopt strategies that not only focus on sourcing recycled plastics but also on the reducing and re-using of plastic packaging and eventually on the proper recycling of their products." Read the full article by Karolina Adamkiewicz on Impact Investor. Find out how we engage with companies on plastic pollution here: https://lnkd.in/gRUitGi5 #ImpactInvesting #Recycling #CircularEconomy #PlasticPollution

'The industry’s promotion of recycling as a fix for plastic pollution has passed the financial burden of waste management to cash-strapped local municipalities – or in most of Asia’s case, informal waste pickers which make up the largest part of the waste management value chain, the report noted. The global cost of municipal solid waste management is set to increase from US$38 billion in 2019 to US$61 billion in 2040 at the current rate of plastic production growth, with local authorities footing most of the bill and, in Asia, waste collectors doing the job of cleaning up. More than half of the world’s plastic is manufactured in Asia, a region with the highest rate (34 per cent) of mismanaged plastic waste. 'The plastic industry has not earned the right to call plastic recyclable.'

Great article here on plastic recycling and its misperceived value. This is particularly important (and not well acknowledged enough among the member-state delegates) for the ongoing UN Plastic Treaty negotiations. One of the problems with scaled success of recovered material for recycling is that “most plastic containers are not getting back into the recycling system, and recyclers simply cannot recycle what they don't collect. For example, only 3 out of 10 water and soda bottles in the U.S. get put into recycling bins, despite those bottles being 100% recyclable.” “In this context, we must focus on real solutions to make recycling work more effectively. The truth is that recycling has never had adequate, sustained funding, and it has been left for local governments to manage. This strategy has resulted in an inequitable, largely inefficient system.“ Stay tuned for a follow-on article on recycling metrics and the way it misrepresents the opportunity this solution offers for reduced plastic pollution. https://lnkd.in/eEe98bhA #plastic #recycling #inc5 #unplastictreaty PEMSEA National Environment Agency Plasticity Forum Plastic Disclosure Project The Wharton School Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) University of California, Berkeley ISWA International Solid Waste Association

One of Big Oil's cleverest tricks has been to convince consumers, governments and even financial markets that it is not responsible for plastic pollution – and that recycling will save our oceans. Lobbying and a decades-long campaign to shift the blame for pollution on to consumers have enabled the plastics sector to stall progress on the United Nations plastic pollution treaty while ramping up plastic production, a report by Planet Tracker finds. Yes, plastic can be recycled. But since only 9% of the world's plastic actually is recycled, recycling is a false solution peddled by the plastics sector to stave off regulation and avoid taking financial responsibility for plastic pollution, they argue. The industry’s promotion of recycling as a fix for plastic pollution has passed the financial burden of waste management to cash-strapped local municipalities – or in most of Asia’s case, waste pickers who make up the largest part of the waste management value chain. The global cost of municipal solid waste management is set to increase from US$38 billion in 2019 to US$61 billion in 2040 at the current rate of plastic production growth. The financial markets also seem to have bought into the plastic sector’s narrative that responsibility for plastic pollution should be focused downstream, with upstream producers perceived by markets as a lower investment risk, according to Planet Tracker’s analysis. However, the non-profit warns that producers of toxic synthetic chemicals are likely to have to fight “a rising tide of litigation” that could affect investor risk assessment. Citing the case of Bayer, which has paid US$14 billion in legal fees to settle more than 100,000 lawsuits claiming that its weedkiller caused cancer, Planet Tracker said investors should be scrutinising the risk premium required to fund producers of harmful chemicals. “We encourage stakeholders to factor in the true costs of plastic pollution now,” says John Willis, director of research at Planet Tracker. #plastics #plasticpollution #petrochemicals #greenwashing

The fight against plastic waste is lagging behind. ⌛ While states continue to make steady progress in the war against waste, the breakdown of the global plastic treaty was a tremendous disappointment. Huge thanks to Jeff Young at Newsweek for featuring my thoughts on reducing plastic waste. Reversing ocean plastic pollution requires global agreements between nations and corporations that fund strong waste management infrastructure in coastal nations currently ill-equipped to deal with the sheer volume of trash they have to manage – trash largely produced by some of the world's largest consumer product brands. The UN Plastic Treaty was a promising step forward but unfortunately came to a gridlock earlier this month. In the midst of this, it is heartening to see some US states taking steps to make packaging, and plastic in particular, more circular and less damaging to the planet. Some things I'd love to see in the year ahead: ➡️ A global UN plastic treaty that is adopted when the committee reconvenes in 2025 ➡️ Increases in US and global recycling rates through innovation, infrastructure, and supporting legislation ➡️ Incentives for brands to utilise post-consumer waste – creating the demand that will help support stronger recycling infrastructure worldwide ➡️ Congress passing recycling legislation that can serve as the foundation for stronger federal action ➡️ Steps to curb the production of the most toxic types of plastic out there, as well as those with little hope of being recyclable long-term What changes do you think are most urgent to address the myriad of issues related to plastic production and waste? 🌎 Read more about my thoughts here:

Currently, only 9% of plastic worldwide is successfully recycled, while the rest is discarded, incinerated, or pollutes our environment. A recent report by CleanHub, highlights several key barriers to the recycling of plastic waste. A major challenge is that certain plastic materials, such as multi-layer packaging, are not recyclable due to their complex chemical compositions. Furthermore, many regions, particularly in developing countries, lack the necessary infrastructure to effectively collect, sort, and process plastic waste. This combination of material complexity and inadequate recycling systems significantly limits the overall efficiency of plastic recycling efforts. https://lnkd.in/ef9Z9u3K #plasticpollution #recycling #plasticwaste

Call for Change The current trajectory of plastic production by these oil and gas giants is unsustainable. A paradigm shift is necessary—one that prioritizes the reduction of plastic at its source rather than relying on inadequate recycling efforts. By cutting back on plastic production, these companies can contribute to a healthier planet and redefine their roles in a future where fossil fuels are no longer the dominant force. As the world moves toward greener alternatives, it is imperative for oil and gas companies to reassess their strategies. Embracing sustainability and reducing plastic output is not just an ethical obligation; it is a strategic necessity in a landscape where traditional revenue streams are dwindling. Surely more than enough plastic now exists on our planet to support our needs - produced since the 1950s - recycling what we have through chemical means back to base molecules representing a new industrial age, not pure environmentalism, but commercial reality.

The race against plastic pollution is on, and the stakes are high. By 2025, big players like Nestlé aim for all plastics to be recyclable, while L’Oreal targets entirely sustainable packaging. P&G has set its sights on reducing virgin plastic use by half come 2030. Yet, the ambition to transform our waste systems is meeting tough challenges. Advanced recycling plants, seen as a beacon of hope for managing plastic waste, are facing technical and operational hurdles, with some not reaching their full potential as swiftly as needed. My approach combines innovation with the circular economy principles, emphasising the need for community and corporate social responsibility involvement. I collaborate with global corporations, philanthropists, local governments, and communities to develop holistic waste management infrastructures that are viable and sustainable. While advanced recycling plants are part of the solution, they're just one piece of the larger puzzle of creating a truly circular economy—one where every piece of plastic has its place and purpose without harming our environment. I’m encouraged by the commitments of large corporations to reduce plastic waste and increase recyclability, but I know the journey to a waste-free world is complex. How can we build resilient systems that honour our environmental commitments? I’d love to hear your thoughts. #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #PlasticPollution